Government contractor due diligence checklist
If you want people to trust a screening workflow, it has to be repeatable. This checklist is designed for procurement teams, primes, and subcontractors that need a clear first-pass process before award, onboarding, or supplier approval.
Core checklist
Confirm the exact legal entity
Start with the exact legal name, UEI, or CAGE code. If the identity is wrong, every other check can become misleading.
Verify SAM.gov registration and exclusion status
Confirm whether the contractor is active in SAM.gov and whether the record shows exclusions or registration problems.
Review labor and enforcement history
Look for DOL and OSHA enforcement issues that may point to operational, ethical, or labor-management risk.
Check federal performance context
Use USAspending context to see whether the company has recent federal award history or appears new to government work.
Screen hardware and supply chain exposure
If hardware or connected devices are involved, run a Section 889-oriented hardware screen before procurement moves forward.
Document what still needs manual review
Automated screening is the first pass. Keep a list of open issues that still need analyst, compliance, or counsel review.
Common red flags
- Name mismatch between a marketing brand and the actual SAM.gov record.
- Expired or incomplete federal registration when the vendor claims to be ready for award.
- Repeated labor or workplace safety issues that raise responsibility concerns.
- No meaningful federal performance history despite claims of deep public-sector experience.
- Hardware sourcing that creates Section 889 follow-up work late in the procurement cycle.
Where DiligenceDesk helps
DiligenceDesk is built for the first-pass workflow. It helps you resolve the entity, check federal registration, add labor and performance context, and document obvious red flags before you move into manual review.